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COMMENDING TWENTY-ONE ALABAMA SCHOOLS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
A+ PLUS COLLEGE READY ADVANCED PLACEMENT INITIATIVE FOR 2014-2015

WHEREAS, the Alabama State Board of Education recognizes the importance of raising expectations and rigor for students in Alabama to help them achieve their fullest academic potential; and

WHEREAS, the Alabama State Department of Education has partnered with
A+ College Ready to expand the opportunities to more students in Alabama to challenge themselves to college-level and college-preparatory courses in math, English, and science; and

WHEREAS, 2014-2015 marks the seventh year of this successful partnership, which has helped prepare over 40,000 Alabama students to take rigorous college-level courses in math, English, and science and is now in 97 of all Alabama high schools; and

WHEREAS, this Advanced Placement Initiative has resulted in Alabama ranking number one from 2008-2013 among all 50 states in the percent increase in qualifying scores on math, English, and science AP exams; and

WHEREAS, the many teachers and education leaders in the 21 new Alabama State Department of Education and A-Plus College Ready program schools are committed to receiving the extra training and putting in the extra hours necessary to increase their capacity to teach high-level Advanced Placement courses, as well as foundational courses in the middle schools for future classes of students to be well prepared for Advanced Placement success; and

WHEREAS, an additional thirteen schools were selected to participate as “Pipeline Schools,” and as such these schools will institute a Pre-AP training program designed to increase the number of students enrolled and succeeding in honors and Pre-AP coursework; and

WHEREAS, this Advanced Placement initiative has received the outstanding support of the National Math & Science Initiative, the Alabama State Legislature, the Governor, the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, and numerous private foundations and corporations; and

WHEREAS, the successful public-private partnership that has enabled the Advanced Placement initiative to grow and expand each year serves as a model for Alabama and other states for how community support of education works for all students, regardless of where they live or their economic and family challenges:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend the twenty-one Alabama high schools listed for their commitment to expanding Advanced Placement opportunities to the students in their community who are ready to step up to the challenge of higher-academic success through the Advanced Placement Initiative.